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Toning it down is not a surprise, to young people or not, the CTS style is too edgy. Toning it down for the Chinese? Really? Just say you don't like the style, but don't stretch it.

The CTS and it's "origami" form factor has been around since 2007, very long in the tooth.

The ATS shouldn't have cloned this old design. Instead, should have broken new ground as the very first car of the new Cadillac design language. GM blew that opportunity, played it safe, it looks like a brand new old car which is the antithesis of what the younger crowd is looking for.

Good idea, lots of market share to borrow from others, but really bad execution.

Cadillac has a tough job. If you told me I had to compete against the 3 series, as well as the A4/S4, the C class, plus all the Japanese, I’d be looking for a new job. They want to market the car for young people, but they toned down the styling to to the state of blandness, to avoid offending Chinese buyers. Then they set the pricing as high as BMW. I mean who, really, is going to buy this car? It doesn’t have the beautiful design of BMW, Audi or MB, nor does it have the great reputation of Lexus or Infiniti. Nor is it a bang for the buck bargain like Infiniti or Acura.

Outside of old Americans who grew up driving muscle cars, I don't really see who would ever buy a Caddy.

Yeah, after two months and when their volume model 2.0T did not even start production. Why don't you look at the Dec 2011 column? ATS was really dead there you know.

They had a ton of TV commercials, must have been 3x what the nearest competitor spent, print ads, front covers of all the major auto mags, still couldn't sell 3,000 units. Not saying that they were in great inventory shape, but please, that's not very good.

I can see someone in a Buick or a Ford who could aspire to be in a Cadillac. Blue collar, born-in-the-USA types, middle America.

But I can't see any BMW owner stepping down to a Cadillac, and for what? Just to save a few dollars and wind up in a baby CTS? Doesn't make sense for us. Wrong customers, wrong forum.

BJ

Yeah, I'm not saying I'd ever get one. I definitely prefer BMWs, no doubt. But I appreciate their products. They have actually turned things around quite a bit. You gotta admit, it wasn't too long ago when Cadillac wouldn't even be mentioned on a BMW forum. Now there are threads and threads talking about the ATS vs the 3. The fact that we're even having this conversation on the 'fest is testimonial to their progress. They're in the ballpark.

Yeah, I'm not saying I'd ever get one. I definitely prefer BMWs, no doubt. But I appreciate their products. They have actually turned things around quite a bit. You gotta admit, it wasn't too long ago when Cadillac wouldn't even be mentioned on a BMW forum. Now there are threads and threads talking about the ATS vs the 3. The fact that we're even having this conversation on the 'fest is testimonial to their progress. They're in the ballpark.

It's called a Guerrilla Marketing Campaign. You target a forum, you grease a poster, he posts repetitively, can be very effective.

It's the first new RWD car in this class in how many years? That's the problem with the ATS. It's designed to be "in the conversation". It's not designed for customers. It's a marketing project, not a great vehicle. If it were, it would be selling. We've been talking about this ridiculous Caddy for over a year, still not a single person is actually driving one or thinking of buying one. We had one person say he took a test drive and wasn't blown away, that's it. That's the sum total of thousands of posts on that ridiculous car.

And the fact that so many posters here seem to be so threatened by the ATS and are so determined to denigrated it tells me that Cadillac is onto something.

CA

No, actually, we're just annoyed by the same poster who keeps bumping his ATS threads over and over again. It's not a car that anyone cares about. It has great entertainment value, for like an hour, and then it gets stale and we move on until Mr. Bump starts the loop all over again.

It's called a Guerrilla Marketing Campaign. You target a forum, you grease a poster, he posts repetitively, can be very effective.

It's the first new RWD car in this class in how many years? That's the problem with the ATS. It's designed to be "in the conversation". It's not designed for customers. It's a marketing project, not a great vehicle. If it were, it would be selling. We've been talking about this ridiculous Caddy for over a year, still not a single person is actually driving one or thinking of buying one. We had one person say he took a test drive and wasn't blown away, that's it. That's the sum total of thousands of posts on that ridiculous car.

BJ

Does this statement resemble anyone else who constantly posts in this forum and this thread?

Cadillac's Art & Science design philosophy has been a hallmark of the brand ever since the CTS was introduced a decade ago, but a new report is indicating the company will soften its sharp lines and creases to appeal to a broader global audience - most notably China.

Reuters says the brand's distinctive styling is a turnoff in the People's Republic because of cultural leaning towards curvier designs such as those offered by Audi, BMW and Mercedes. This apparently ties into a Confucian concept that stresses harmony with smooth lines and soft curves.

Cadillac seems to agree as the brand's Chinese sales and marketing chief, Kevin Chen, has confirmed many buyers dislike the company's styling because it is too "bold" and "futuristic." This puts Cadillac in an awkward position because Chen said "If you ask our customers what's the motivation for choosing Cadillac, they would say design. If you ask Audi buyers why they don't choose Cadillac, they'd say it's too bold."

Despite this, Chen confirmed the brand will gravitate towards a "modern contemporary design" which will likely be more conservative.

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"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice." - Cherokee Expression

I love how Prius owners glare at me when I'm driving my Suburban or Tahoe. I think I'll start asking them what green plan they have for disposing their batteries when time comes.

Many Prius drivers are in it so they don't have to spend much on gas, not for the environment. It is a legit goal. Prius also has very high resale value. BJ should have been driving a Prius, if he is true to his finance discipline.

Many Prius drivers are in it so they don't have to spend much on gas, not for the environment. It is a legit goal. Prius also has very high resale value. BJ should have been driving a Prius, if he is true to his finance discipline.

Yeah, I was just trying to change the subject, and wish I didn't even post that now. But I like a Prius about the same BJ likes the ATS.